„A LOS PADŁ NA BISKUPÓW…” NA MARGINESIE ROZWAŻAŃ O STOSUNKU DO RZUCANIA LOSÓW W PÓŹNEJ STAROŻYTNOŚCI
“AND THE LOT FELL ON THE BISHOPS…” A FEW NOTES ON THE DISCUSSION OF THE APPROACH TO THE EPISCOPAL ELECTION BY LOT IN LATE ANTIQUITY

Summary/Abstract: This paper makes reference to Robert Wiśniewski’s article concerned with the resignation from the practice of episcopal election by lot, apparent in Late Antiquity. This shift is puzzling, given the fact that New Testament offers the example of Matthias thus elected as the apostle replacing Judas (Acts 1: 26). Wiśniewski explains this circumstance predominantly by the preeminence of bad connotations and associations with fortune-telling and divination. However, in the Vita Euthymii 45, Cyril of Scythopolis states that the monks, who were opposed to the decrees of the Council of Chalcedon, followed the example described in the Acts and cast lots in order to take a decision on entering into communion with the pro-Chalcedon bishops. The author does not see anything wrong in the method used by the monks and approves it wholeheartedly, considering the outcome as a sign of Divine Providence. Therefore, in all probability, the discontinuation of the procedure in Late Antiquity did not result from any associations with pagan rites or gambling; it was rather due to the fact that there had already existed a different, and well-entrenched, form of episcopal election in Christian tradition, in that particular period.

• Details
• Contents